Obituary for Jerry Johnston

Jerry Edward Johnston

February 1, 1935 – January 5, 2021

Jerry Edward Johnston, 85, of Braman, Oklahoma died Tuesday, January 5, 2021 in Blackwell, Oklahoma. Visitation will be in the chapel at Roberts and Son Funeral Home on Saturday, January 9 from 1pm-8pm. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 15 at 2pm at the Braman United Methodist Church.

Jerry was born February 1, 1935 in Braman, Oklahoma to Edward Jeremiah and Myra Caroline (Morton) Johnston. He attended Braman Schools from 1st grade until he graduated with the class of 1953. He played on the football and basketball teams and sang in the chorus. The best part of high school was meeting Marilyn Taylor. He famously asked her to marry him on their first date – she laughed. He won her over and they married on September 3, 1955. He attended Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, Oklahoma. While there, Jerry and Marilyn welcomed a daughter, Jerri Lynn (JJ), in 1956. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1957 with a degree in Agriculture and came back to Braman to work in the family business, The Ed Johnston Grain Company. In 1958, son Craige Edward was born and completed the family. Jerry became President of the company in 1972, upon the death of his father. He remained in this role until 1981, when the company was sold and he “retired.” Retirement saw him wear many hats – real estate appraiser, grocery store owner, board member, and community champion.

No one did more to put Braman, Oklahoma on the map than Jerry Johnston. He was a member of the Braman Board of Education, a lifelong member of the Braman United Methodist Church, volunteer firefighter, Civil Defense Director, and, of course, mayor. During his 28 year tenure as mayor, he focused on improving his hometown by joining multiple regional and national committees and boards. He was the President of the Oklahoma Conference of Mayors and the Oklahoma Municipal League, who honored him as the Oklahoma Mayor of the Year in 1998. He received a Governor’s Commendation from Governor Mary Fallin for his years of service as Mayor of Braman and was inducted into the Oklahoma Municipal League Hall of Fame. He served on numerous boards including the Department of Environmental Quality, Kaw Enterprise Development Authority, Blackwell Regional Hospital, KanOkla Telephone, National Telephone Cooperative Association, and the Oklahoma Telephone Association. His wife, Marilyn, was always by his side and an integral part of these accomplishments. Sadly, she passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2009.

Jerry did not have much free time, but when he could, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, anything car related, and having his coffee with friends at the Braman Cafe. He loved spending time with his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids and traveling to see family. He was a lifelong supporter of the mission of Oklahoma State University. He loved his Cowboys (both OSU and Dallas) even when they weren’t playing their best. He received a Distinguished Alumni award from OSU in 1989 and was a lifetime member of the Alumni Association.

On June 14, 2014 Jerry married Sally Norris. With this marriage, he gained a bonus family. Jerry and Sally enjoyed six-and-a-half happy years together full of God, love, laughter, and Freddy’s steakburgers.

He is survived by his wife of the home, daughter, Jerri Lynn (JJ) Johnston Stevak and son-in-law Ed Stevak, son, Craige Edward Johnston and daughter-in-law Sara Johnston, all of Tulsa, Oklahoma, granddaughter, Ashley Maureen Johnston Swart of Elgin, Oklahoma, grandson, Colin Daniel Hays Johnston and granddaughter-in-law Kayla Day, grandson, Taylor Edwin Stevak, all of Tulsa, Oklahoma, two great-grandchildren, Lila Caroline Swart and Jackson Davis Swart, both of Elgin, Oklahoma, and members of his bonus family, son, John Newton Norris and daughter-in-law Karen Starks Norris and son, William Morgan Norris Jr. of Blackwell, granddaughter, Katie Lynn Norris Williams and grandson-in-law Cody Williams of Seminole, Texas, granddaughters, Kira Ann Norris Able of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Kori T Norris of Shawnee, Oklahoma, great grandchildren, Clayton Charles Williams, Allison Morgan Williams, Mason John Williams, and Jackson Lee Williams of Seminole, Texas. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Celeste Johnston Emas and brother-in-law Marvin Emas of Branson, Missouri, brother, George Jason Johnston and sister-in-law Edwina Johnston of Oklahoma City, sister-in-law, Sharon Taylor Ray of Braman, Oklahoma and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Myra Johnston, sister, Laura Ann Johnston, wife, Marilyn Taylor Johnston, sister-in-law Joan Taylor Davison, brothers-in-law Dean Davison and Leroy Ray, and nephew Mike Davison.

Jerry’s family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Sharon Ray, Trudy Rowe, the Blackwell and Braman Fire Departments, Cindy Neumayer, Eric Gove, Dr. Shuart, 911 operators, and the Kay County Sheriff’s Department

Memorial donations are requested in lieu of flowers to either the Braman Firefighters or the Braman United Methodist Church, in ℅ Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.